on the people, not only as necessary to health, but as the
condition of retaining among them the presence of the Holy One.
By divine authority Moses declared to them, “The Lord thy God
walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee; ... therefore shall
thy camp be holy.” Deuteronomy 23:14.
The education of the Israelites included all their habits of life.
Everything that concerned their well-being was the subject of divine
solicitude, and came within the province of divine law. Even in
providing their food, God sought their highest good. The manna
28 Education
with which He fed them in the wilderness was of a nature to promote
physical, mental, and moral strength. Though so many of them
rebelled against the restriction of their diet, and longed to return to
the days when, they said, “We sat by the fleshpots, and when we
did eat bread to the full” (Exodus 16:3), yet the wisdom of God’s
choice for them was vindicated in a manner they could not gainsay.
Notwithstanding the hardships of their wilderness life, there was not
a feeble one in all their tribes.
In all their journeyings the ark containing the law of God was to
lead the way. The place of their encampment was indicated by the
descent of the pillar of cloud. As long as the cloud rested over the
tabernacle, they remained in camp. When it lifted, they pursued their
journey. Both the halt and the departure were marked by a solemn
invocation. “It came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses
[39] said, Rise up, Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered.... And when
it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.”
Numbers 10:35, 36.
As the people journeyed through the wilderness, many precious
lessons were fixed in their minds by means of song. At their deliverance
from Pharaoh’s army the whole host of Israel had joined
in the song of triumph. Far over desert and sea rang the joyous
refrain, and the mountains re-echoed the accents of praise, “Sing
ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously.” Exodus 15:21.
Often on the journey was this song repeated, cheering the hearts
and kindling the faith of the pilgrim travelers. The commandments
as given from Sinai, with promises of God’s favor and records of
His wonderful works for their deliverance, were by divine direction
expressed in song, and were chanted to the sound of instrumental
music, the people keeping step as their voices united in praise.
Thus their thoughts were uplifted from the trials and difficulties
of the way, the restless, turbulent spirit was soothed and calmed,
the principles of truth were implanted in the memory, and faith
was strengthened. Concert of action taught order and unity, and
the people were brought into closer touch with God and with one
another.
Of the dealing of God with Israel during the forty years of wilderness
wandering, Moses declared: “As a man chasteneth his son, so
the Lord thy God chasteneth thee;” “to humble thee, and to prove
Chapter 5—The Education of Israel 29
thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep
His commandments, or no.” Deuteronomy 8:5, 2.
“He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness;
He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple
of His eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, [40]
spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with
him.” Deuteronomy 32:10-12.
“He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham His servant.
And He brought forth His people with joy, and His chosen with
gladness: and gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited
the labor of the people; that they might observe His statutes, and
keep His laws.” Psalm 105:42-45.
God surrounded Israel with every facility, gave them every privilege,
that would make them an honor to His name and a blessing to
surrounding nations. If they would walk in the ways of obedience,
He promised to make them “high above all nations which He hath
made, in praise, and in name, and in honor.” “All people of the
earth,” He said, “shall hear that thou art called by the name of the
Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.” The nations which shall hear
all these statutes shall say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and
understanding people.” Deuteronomy 26:19; 28:10; Deuteronomy
4:6.
In the laws committed to Israel, explicit instruction was given
concerning education. To Moses at Sinai God had revealed Himself
as “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness
and truth.” Exodus 34:6. These principles, embodied in His law, the
fathers and mothers in Israel were to teach their children. Moses by
divine direction declared to them: “These words, which I command
thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them
diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest
in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou
liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6:6, 7. [41]
Not as a dry theory were these things to be taught. Those who
would impart truth must themselves practice its principles. Only
by reflecting the character of God in the uprightness, nobility, and
unselfishness of their own lives can they impress others.
30 Education
True education is not the forcing of instruction on an unready and
unreceptive mind. The mental powers must be awakened, the interest
aroused. For this, God’s method of teaching provided. He who
created the mind and ordained its laws, provided for its development
in accordance with them. In the home and the sanctuary, through the
things of nature and of art, in labor and in festivity, in sacred building
and memorial stone, by methods and rites and symbols unnumbered,
God gave to Israel lessons illustrating His principles and preserving
the memory of His wonderful works. Then, as inquiry was made,
the instruction given impressed mind and heart.
In the arrangements for the education of the chosen people it is
made manifest that a life centered in God is a life of completeness.
Every want He has implanted, He provides to satisfy; every faculty
imparted, He seeks to develop.
The Author of all beauty, Himself a lover of the beautiful, God
provided to gratify in His children the love of beauty. He made
provision also for their social needs, for the kindly and helpful
associations that do so much to cultivate sympathy and to brighten
and sweeten life.
As a means of education an important place was filled by the
feasts of Israel. In ordinary life the family was both a school and a
church, the parents being the instructors in secular and in religious
[42] lines. But three times a year seasons were appointed for social
intercourse and worship. First at Shiloh, and afterward at Jerusalem,
these gatherings were held. Only the fathers and sons were required
to be present; but none desired to forgo the opportunities of the
feasts, and, so far as possible, all the household were in attendance;
and with them, as sharers of their hospitality, were the stranger, the
Levite, and the poor.
The journey to Jerusalem, in the simple, patriarchal style, amidst
the beauty of the springtime, the richness of midsummer, or the
ripened glory of autumn, was a delight. With offerings of gratitude
they came, from the man of white hairs to the little child, to meet
with God in His holy habitation. As they journeyed, the experiences
of the past, the stories that both old and young still love so well,
were recounted to the Hebrew children. The songs that had cheered
the wilderness wandering were sung. God’s commandments were
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chanted, and, bound up with the blessed influences of nature and of
Chapter 5—The Education of Israel 31
kindly human association, they were f
